How the bidding works, Opening 1NT Lesson 6 New terms met in this lesson auction balanced bidding bidding box call contract denomination game bid grand slam no bid opener opening bid pass raise response responder slam weakness takeout Lesson Plan Activity Method Time Notes on activities Revision Q&A 5 Comments about the competition, very brief mention of results ‘Well done you were third E/W’ as students arrive if you didn’t score at the end of the lesson.
What is CHAT 20 Lessons learned from MiniBridge. How bridge differs? bidding? Points needed for game. Choice of contract. Leads etc. TR10 (T38) What is bidding? Why bid? Limitations of the language TR11 (T39) What we mean by a balanced hand Open 1NT on all 12 14 balanced hands. (TR10) Hands that are not suitable for 1NT (TR11) Get students to make up their own examples
Practical SYNC 25 Get students to put board 1 on the table, the right way Learning DRAG round. Ask the following: who bids first? P33 (B2H1) what does dealer at table 1 bid? Do others agree? Hand 1 discuss differences, agree the bid. ask next player to bid. Do others agree? make sure all understand the process of bidding do they know when the auction has finished? do they know what the contract is? who is declarer? Who makes the opening lead? play the hand at each table in normal fashion Don’t rush the activity; you need not play all four hands. Better to get the students thinking in the right way and working out what to do around the table. When bidding complete, play the hand to check contract reached is OK.
Break 10
Practical SYNC 40 TR12 (T39) DRAG First 5 in the quiz P33 (B2H1) Just do hand 3 on P33
Review Q&A 10 How is bridge different? What have we learned about the bidding process? What is a balanced hand? When do we open them 1NT?
Try This QUIZ 10 Exercise in beginning bidding to be done at home. Expect P31 them to get the last one on weakness take out wrong.
Next time The bidding following a 1NT opening.
Book pages P23-26 Practice Beginning Bridge Set 1 – page 6 can be used after this lesson
Teacher’s Notes for introduction to bidding T 33
Responses to 1NT Lesson 7 New terms met in this lesson ethics game force game try forcing invitational jump bid jump shift maximum three level two level Yarborough Lesson Plan Activity Method Time Notes on activities Revision Q&A Go through homework P31 10
Opening CHAT Reminder to open 1NT on all 12 14 balanced hands and or 15 Responses on balanced hands, worked out from 25+ responding CDL points for game to 1NT Bidding game in a major TR12 (T39) Jump shift to offer choice of games Weakness takeout
Bidding QUIZ Exercise on responding to 1NT practice 15 TR13 (T40)
Go over DISC quiz 15
Break 10
1NT PLAY 50 Use Hands 1 4, to bid, play and score openings These can be made up at the table if not done in advance TR14 ((T42),(B2H1))
Review RECAP 5 Summarise the types of bid responder can make: Pass, weakness takeout, three level, four level Make sure students understand when to use each reply.
Try This QUIZ Same quiz as last week, but can you do this on your own at P31 home after this week’s lesson?
Next time Playing in a suit to get a less worse score.
Book pages P25 - 29. Point out P30 , the summary sheet, which could usefully be learned by heart!
Practice Beginning Bridge Set 2 – page 20 can be used after this lesson
Teacher’s Notes for introduction to bidding T 34
Play Lesson Lesson 8 New terms met in this lesson weakness take out Lesson Plan Activity Method Time Notes on activities Revision Q&A Go through homework P31 10
PLAY 90 Play hands TR14 8 hands to practice opening 1NT and responses
Break 10
Review 10 Just go through some of the main points, if not covered as you go along.
Next time Bidding when we cannot open 1NT.
Book pages Re read P25 to 30 on opening 1NT and responses
Teacher’s Notes for introduction to bidding T 35
An Introduction to Bidding - How to teach this topic Difference Describe these, pointing out that the main difference is how the between contract is decided – we are not allowed to look at partner’s hand MiniBridge and before deciding what trumps are or NT and whether to go for game. Bridge Emphasise that the play is identical and the scoring very similar so all they have already learned will be useful. What is bidding? Show how bidding works using a bidding box. Just one on the table stops people making an insufficient bid. Put more formally: a ‘bid’ is a number from 1 to 7 followed by a ‘denomination’ to be legal the bid must outrank all previous bids a ‘call’ is any bid or a ‘pass’ bidding starts with the dealer The auction finishes when three consecutive passes follow a bid OR if all four players pass at their first turn to bid. Point out the vocabulary is limited to just 13 or 14 words. Don’t even think of mentioning double or redouble yet. These are: One; Two; Three; Four; Five; Six; Seven; No Trumps; Spades; Hearts; Diamonds; Clubs; Pass (or No Bid). Take it slowly Don’t talk for too long; this is a topic we will revisit often so there is no need to say everything in the first or second lesson on bidding. No trump bidding is easier learnt in practice than in theory. This material is still very early in the students’ learning. Don’t do more than they can cope with, cut some parts or spread the material over more time. Hands 1 to 8 on TR14 are there for further practice. We cannot afford to lose people early on. Watch their faces to see how it’s going. Bidding boxes Try to use bidding boxes from the very start, if available. It helps the deaf, the dumb, the foreign students as well as everybody with poor memories. Show bidding boxes with the bids displayed on the cards (bidding boxes are one reason we prefer pass to No Bid, it is what the green card says). It reminds all players of the auction to date. Teachers can see at a glance what has happened. Tell students that they can get the score from the back of the bidding card. Only one bidding box is actually needed per table if you don’t have enough. Students remove all the bids up to and including the one they are making, so the box should not get in a muddle. This prevents insufficient bids and emphasises that each bid is greater than the previous one. A bidding box nicely illustrates the bidding ladder.
For the early lessons remove the double (X), redouble (XX) and alert cards. Leave the ‘Stop’ card in and use it properly from the first instance of its occurring. Language of Because of limited vocabulary, we code our messages. The first bridge message to be learned is 1NT, which says ‘I have a balanced hand with 12, 13 or 14 points and no 5 card major’. Balanced means – no void, singleton, at most one doubleton. So it includes 5 card suits but we usually only open 1NT with minors. After 1NT opened Do not give rules for responder. Let the students work it out. Don’t rush the first hand, take it slowly, and make every student think.
Teacher’s Notes for introduction to bidding T 36
The first bidding Put the hand that has to make a bid on the table, so that all can lesson is intuitive share in the problem solving. Pick it up after making the bid. When playing the hand, only the dummy should be visible Students should discover how to respond to a 1NT opening using the definition of a 1NT opener. Encourage discussion about each bid. Ask others what the auction has shown so far when it is their turn to bid After the hand is played, write down the auction on the board. It is the first time the notation is used. Explain it. Review the auction You needn’t play the hand; just count the tricks available together We don’t want students to learn a set of rules, we want them to be able to work out what to bid (they forget the rules)
The auction after KEEP THIS SIMPLE; DON’T SAY MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO. partner opens The choices open to responder are to: 1NT pass when balanced and less than 11 HCP bid game in a major with 6 or more and enough points The second/third bid 3NT with 13+ HCP or try for game with 2NT and 11 12 HCP bidding lesson is investigate alternative games by bidding 3 ♥ or 3 ♠ with five a more formal weak takeout to a suit students find it hard to see why they presentation should bid with nothing. Call it ‘damage limitation’ With long minors and values, bid 3NT and hope it makes!
We revisit bidding over 1NT later in the course, this is enough for now.
More to come You can say that there is more to bidding over 1NT than we have learned. It comes later in the course. This may come up as a question because some students have played a bit before and have heard of Stayman. Don’t be drawn further unless you are totally confident in the ability of all students (not just the noisy ones).
Ethics Don’t pull faces (act out happy and cross expressions to show what you mean) Try to bid in an even tempo, again acting fast and slow passes to show hands with values and hands with nothing
Provide lots of Remind the students, who may be rather daunted at this stage, reassurance and Everybody was a beginner once, so we all understand it’s hard support to do things quickly You don’t have to get the answers right! Make sure you understand what has happened Ask for help if you haven’t a clue what they should do
You are trying to ensure that students know what they are aiming for even if they are not yet able to achieve it! If you have very slow students, it is probably true that the appearance of thought actually shows they haven’t a clue what to do! Help them to talk through the problem with the rest of the table. If students are stuck, try to elicit the options rather than telling. Get the rest of the table to help them.
Teacher’s Notes for introduction to bidding T 37
Summary of Resource Materials Book Activity Resource Materials Page Responses to 1NT Quiz 31 1NT opening B2H1 Hands 1 to 4 33
Summary of Teacher’s Materials Teacher’s Activity Resource Materials Ref page Hands suitable to open 1NT Quiz for OHP or board TR10 T38 Hands not suitable for 1NT Quiz for OHP or board TR11 T39 Responses to a 1NT opening CDL TR12 T39 bid Hands to bid with partner 8 hands that start with 1NT TR13 T40 Opening 1NT practice hands B2H2 Hands 1 to 8 TR14 T42
Summary of hands to play Hand Bidding Play points Dec. Other points P33 Opening 1NT Hands for first bidding lesson 1 Raise of 1NT to 3NT 9 tricks on top N 25 points for game 2 Jump to 4 ♥ directly 11 tricks if ♦ ruffed W 1NT has 2+ ♥s 3 Raise to 2NT Drive out ♦A S 4 Weak takeout 8 tricks can be made E TR14 (T42) Responding to 1NT Second lesson on bidding after 1NT 1 Jump to 3 ♠ E 2 Weak takeout to ♥ s Drive out ♦A W 3 Jump to 3 ♥ Drawing trumps N 4 Jump to game in ♠ s Drawing trumps S TR14 (T43) Responding to 1NT Extra hands, for third lesson on 1NT or revision. 5 Pass 1NT 7 tricks on top S 6 Weak takeout Opening lead N 7 2NT response Drive out ♣A first E 8 Bidding a slam 13 top tricks! W
TR10 Hands that open 1NT – Why?
♠ A 7 5 3 ♠ Q J ♠ A Q 8 5 ♠ Q J 5 4 ♥ J 7 6 ♥ A 7 2 ♥ A 7 5 ♥ Q 10 6 2 ♦ K 4 3 ♦ K Q 9 8 6 ♦ J 9 ♦ A 4 ♣ A J 2 ♣ Q 10 9 ♣ K 10 8 4 ♣ K 9 6
Answers (1)13 – average (2)14 – max (3)14 – max (4)12 – min
Teacher’s Notes for introduction to bidding T 38
TR11 Hands that do not open 1NT – Why not? ♠ A 8 7 5 3 ♠ Q J ♠ A Q 8 5 ♠ Q J 5 4 ♥ J 6 ♥ A 7 ♥ A 7 6 5 ♥ Q 10 6 2 ♦ K 4 3 ♦ K Q 9 8 6 ♦ J ♦ K 4 ♣ A J 2 ♣ Q 10 9 2 ♣ K 10 8 4 ♣ A K 9
Answers (1) 5 card major (2) two doubletons (3) singleton diamond (4) 15 points
TR12 Responses to a 1NT opening bid Ask the questions in columns 2 4 to get the facts Get suggestions as to what the response should be Agree the best answer Make the changes shown in the last column Repeat the above with the new hand New Hand How many Is hand What are our What bid Make changes points? balanced? side’s over 1NT? points? ♠ J 10 6 3 Change ♥ K Q 7 1 7 Yes 19 21 Pass ♦ 5 2 to ♦ A K ♦ 9 8 5 2
♣ J 10 ♠ J 10 6 3 Change ♥ K Q 7 2 14 Yes 26 28 3NT ♠ 3 to ♣ K ♦ A K 9 8
♣♣♣ J 10 ♠ J 10 6 3NT Change ♥ K Q 7 not enough 3 17 Yes 29 31 ♣ K to ♣ 9 ♦ A K 9 8 to try for ♦ K to ♦7 ♣♣♣ K J 10 slam ♠ J 10 6 ♥ 2NT K Q 7 ♣ ♣ 4 ♦ 11 Yes 23 25 just worth a J to 2 A 9 8 7 game try ♣♣♣ J 10 9 ♠ J 10 6 Pass ♥ K Q 7 Change 5 10 Yes 22 24 maximum ♦ ♥ ♦ A 9 8 7 for a pass KQ to 6 5 ♣ 10 9 2 ♠ J 10 6 2♦ Change ♥ 7 6 5 No 17 19 Weak ♦9876 and ♣2 to ♦ A 9 8 7 6 5 takeout ♥ ♣♣♣ 10 9 2 AKQJ9 ♠ J 10 6 ♥ ♥ A K Q J 9 7 4 Change 7 15 No 27 29 Just bid ♦ A 5 ♥Q to ♦6 game ♣♣♣ 10 9 ♠ J 10 6 Change Yes but it ♥ ♥ A K J 9 7 3 ♠ J10 to ♥ Q10 8 ♦ 13 has a 5 card 25 27 ask partner A 6 5 ♣109 to ♣AK ♣♣♣ major to choose 10 9 ♠ 6 ♥ A K Q J 10 9 7 9 21 No 33 35 6♥ Bid your first slam! ♦ A 6 5 ♣♣♣ A K
Teacher’s Notes for introduction to bidding T 39 TR13 Exercise on Beginning Bidding
Practice opening 1NT and responding to a 1NT opening. Cover up partner’s hand – just look at your own cards.
WEST HANDS EAST HANDS ♠ A 7 5 1 West dealer 1 West dealer ♠ 9 6 4 ♥ Q 9 8 ♥ J 5 4 ♦ K 6 3 ♦ Q J 10 9 ♣ A J 6 2 ♣ K Q 3
♠ A 7 5 2 East dealer 2 East dealer ♠ K 9 6 ♥ Q 9 8 ♥ J 5 4 ♦ K 6 3 ♦ Q J 10 9 ♣ A J 6 2 ♣ K Q 3
♠ K Q J 7 3 West dealer 3 West dealer ♠ A 5 2 ♥ 9 8 6 ♥ J 10 5 3 ♦ A 7 6 ♦ K 3 2 ♣ Q 9 4 ♣ A 10 7
♠ K Q J 7 4 East dealer 4 East dealer ♠ A 5 2 ♥ A Q 2 ♥ K 10 5 3 ♦ A 7 6 ♦ K 3 2 ♣ K Q J ♣ A 10 7
♠ A 5 2 5 West dealer 5 West dealer ♠ K Q J 7 ♥ J 10 5 3 ♥ 9 8 6 ♦ K Q 2 ♦ A 7 6 ♣ A 10 7 ♣ Q 9 4
♠ K Q J 7 5 3 6 East dealer 6 East dealer ♠ 10 2 ♥ A 6 2 ♥ K 5 3 ♦ 8 7 ♦ A 9 6 2 ♣ K 5 ♣ A Q 9 7
♠ K Q J 7 7 West dealer 7 West dealer ♠ A 5 2 ♥ A 6 2 ♥ K 10 9 5 3 ♦ 8 7 ♦ K 2 ♣ K 9 5 3 ♣ A 10 7
♠ 7 5 8 East dealer 8 East dealer ♠ J 6 ♥ J 9 8 6 5 ♥ Q 4 2 ♦ 4 3 2 ♦ A K 7 5 ♣ 10 9 2 ♣ K J 8 7
♠ 8 6 9 West dealer 9 West dealer ♠ K 10 4 3 2 ♥ A Q J 3 ♥ 8 6 ♦ A J 5 4 ♦ K Q 3 ♣ Q 10 7 ♣ A K 2
B
Teacher’s Notes for Bidding with a Suit T 40
TR13 Exercise on Beginning Bidding - answers
WEST EAST
1 1NT pass East has nothing to bid with nine points and a balanced hand.
2 1NT West can raise straight to 3NT with fourteen points, knowing 3NT pass that the partnership has at least 26 points between the two hands.
3 1NT 2NT East has twelve points, game is possible. 2NT asks partner pass to bid 3NT with a maximum. West has only 12 points, so passes 2NT. Even eight tricks are not entirely certain on this deal.
4 1NT West has 22 points. He knows East must have 12 14 points, 6NT pass so that there must be 34 36 points between the two hands. East/West must be able to make twelve tricks and West should say 6NT.
Bidding a contract at the six level is called a small slam . If game in 3NT, taking twelve tricks, is worth a score of +490, then a small slam of 6NT scores +990, an extra bonus of 500.
If West held 25 or more points, then West would know the partnership held at least 37 points between them. He would then have said 7NT – a grand slam.
5 1NT 2NT This time it is East who asks partner the question, but with 3NT pass 14 points West is able to bid 3NT. Nine tricks should make, either by the defence helping you in establishing a second club trick, or if the defence do not lead clubs, declarer can play hearts every time he gains the lead and eventually a winner gets set up.
6 1NT West has six spades and thirteen points. Quite enough to 4♠ pass jump straight to game.
7 1NT 3♥ East is not sure whether to play in hearts or no trumps. With 4♥ pass fourteen points the partnership must choose one game or the other. 3 ♥ asks partner which game to play in. With three hearts West chooses to play in 4♥.
8 1NT West has an awful hand but it might take a few tricks if 2♥ pass hearts are trumps. Limit the possible damage on the hand and bid 2 ♥.
9 1NT 3♠ West is not sure whether to play in spades or no trumps 3♠ 3NT pass asks partner to choose. With only two spades West chooses 3NT.
Teacher’s Notes for Opening one of a suit T 41
TR14 1NT opening practice hands – B2H2 ♠ Q 10 9 8 Board 1 : Dealer North ♥ 9 8 5 West North East South ♦ J 10 7 Pass 1NT Pass ♣ K 5 3 3♠ Pass 3NT All Pass ♠ A K 7 4 3 ♠ J 5 ♥ K 7 ♥ A J 2 North passes, East with 12 points bids 1NT and South ♦ A 5 ♦ K 9 6 2 passes. West with 14 points knows that East/West ♣ 10 7 6 4 ♣ Q J 9 8 should bid game but is not sure whether in spades or ♠ ♠ 6 2 NT, so bids 3 to ask partner. With only two spades, ♥ ♥ Q 10 6 4 3 East bids 3NT. South leads 4. Win the jack and count ♦ Q 8 4 3 your tricks. Playing on clubs sets up two winners with two spades, three hearts and two diamonds. ♣ A 2
♠ Q 7 6 5 Board 2 : Dealer East ♥ K 3 West North East South ♦ A 9 7 1NT Pass ♣ Q 9 7 4 2♥ All Pass ♠ K 9 4 ♠ A 3 2 ♥ J 10 9 8 7 4 ♥ Q 5 East has a normal 1NT opening with 14 points. Holding ♦ J 4 2 ♦ K Q 10 6 only 5 points West knows that East/West have fewer ♥ ♣ 2 ♣ K 6 5 3 combined points than North/South have. West bids 2 ♠ J 10 8 because the hand must play better if hearts are trumps. ♥ ♥ A 6 2 In fact, West can make 2 by drawing trumps and ♦ 8 5 3 playing on diamonds. ♣ A J 10 8 ♠ A J 9 Board 3 : Dealer South ♥ A K 8 6 4 West North East South ♦ 10 9 1NT ♣ Q 8 2 Pass 3♥ Pass 4♥ ♠ 7 5 4 ♠ 10 8 2 All Pass ♥ 3 ♥ J 10 9 7 ♦ A K Q 5 4 ♦ J 3 2 When partner opens 1NT, North knows North/South ♣ 7 6 4 3 ♣ J 10 9 should be playing in game. But maybe hearts will be ♥ ♠ K Q 6 3 better than no trumps, so North bids 3 to consult ♥ ♥ Q 5 2 partner. South with three hearts bids 4 . A good ♦ 8 7 6 decision, as 3NT should not make (look at the diamonds). Even though East has a trump trick, there ♣ A K 5 are only three losers, two diamonds and one heart. Count your tricks to check. ♠ Q 8 Board 4 : Dealer West ♥ Q 5 2 West North East South ♦ A J 9 4 2 Pass 1NT Pass 4♠ ♣ A 10 8 All Pass ♠ A 5 2 ♠ 9 4 ♥ 9 8 4 3 ♥ A K J 10 6 South has 12 points and a good 6 card spade suit. ♦ 8 5 ♦ 10 7 3 When partner opens 1NT, showing 12–14 and at least ♠ ♣ Q 5 3 2 ♣ J 7 4 two spades, just bid 4 . It must be the best game. West ♠ K J 10 7 6 3 probably leads a heart. South ruffs the second heart ♥ 7 and plays trumps. Remember to draw all three rounds of trumps (count to 13) and you should make eleven ♦ K Q 6 tricks, since you can throw the losing club on the long ♣ K 9 6 diamonds.
Teacher’s Notes for Opening one of a suit T 42
TR14 1NT opening practice hands – B2H2 ♠ K Q 3 Board 5 : Dealer North ♥ J 10 2 West North East South ♦ 10 8 7 3 Pass Pass 1NT ♣ A 10 3 All Pass ♠ 9 8 6 ♠ 5 4 2 ♥ A K 8 6 ♥ 9 4 3 A simple auction since North does not have enough ♦ 2 ♦ A K Q 9 4 points to open the bidding or to bid over 1NT. West ♣ ♣ J 7 6 5 4 ♣ 9 2 should lead 5, fourth highest of the longest suit. South ♠ A J 10 7 plays hearts and sets up a heart trick to go with four spades and three clubs. ♥ Q 7 5
♦ J 6 5 ♣ K Q 8 ♠ J 9 8 7 4 3 Board 6 : Dealer East ♥ J West North East South ♦ 6 2 Pass 1NT ♣ J 9 8 3 Pass 2♠ All Pass ♠ Q 6 ♠ K 5 2 ♥ A 10 9 6 ♥ K 7 4 2 North will not want to make a bid on only 3 HCP, but it ♦ J 8 7 4 ♦ A 10 9 3 must be better to play the hand in spades. East can ♣ A Q 10 ♣ 5 2 lead a doubleton club and get a ruff. But the defence ♦ ♥ ♠ A 10 can take only three more tricks: A, A and a spade. ♥ Q 8 5 3 One off is far better than South could have done in 1NT.
♦ K Q 5 ♣ K 7 6 4 ♠ 8 7 Board 7 : Dealer South ♥ K 8 4 2 West North East South ♦ Q J 8 3 Pass ♣ A 7 6 Pass 1NT Pass 2NT ♠ A J 9 ♠ K Q 6 2 Pass 3NT All Pass ♥ J 9 5 ♥ A 10 6 ♦ 9 7 6 ♦ A 10 West passes originally but raises 1NT to 2NT. This ♣ K Q 9 4 ♣ J 10 8 5 shows 11 or 12 points and, since East is a maximum, it is right to bid 3NT. Declarer makes at least nine tricks ♠ 10 5 4 3 by playing on clubs as soon as he gets the lead. Even if ♥ Q 7 3 South leads ♦2, declarer loses just three diamonds and ♦ K 5 4 2 ♣A. ♣ 3 2
♠ 10 9 8 7 Board 8 : Dealer West ♥ J 10 5 West North East South ♦ 10 8 1NT Pass 6NT All Pass ♣ K 9 8 2 ♠ Q 3 ♠ A K J 2 It will take East a long time to count all those points as ♥ A 9 8 4 ♥ K Q 3 22 is more than usual. Knowing that East/West must ♦ Q J 6 5 ♦ A K 3 2 have at least 34 points, but not as many as 37, a brave ♣ A J 10 ♣ Q 7 East bids 6NT and a nervous West can take all thirteen tricks when the hearts break 3 3. ♠ 6 5 4
♥ 7 6 2 ♦ 9 7 4 ♣ 6 5 4 3
Teacher’s Notes for Opening one of a suit T 43